yuniang - The Civil War

The Civil War gave women the opportunity to do war work rather than their usual housework. Women supported the armies by making uniforms, arms ammunition, and other supplies for soldiers. Some women were even spies like Rose O'Neal Greenhow and volunteer nurses such as Louisa May Alcott. Also, the brave disguised themselves as men and fought in the war like the famous Frances Clayton. When comparing some of the women of the Civil War with the women of Dollhouse, Nora stands out from the others in Ibsen's play. Like the American women, Nora is also very independent, bold, and in a sense uncommunicative. The women of the Civil War stepped up to the plate and served either the North or South in behind the scenes work. Whereas Nora kind of took monetary matters into her own hands when Torvald was ill. All women were bold in executing the above mentioned actions too. Depending on their type of work, women in the Civil War had to remain very quiet about what they were doing. If a woman like Frances Clayton was an active soldier, she could tell no one except her husband for her own safety. Likewise, Nora kept her debt a secret even from her husband. However the only people who knew were Krogstad and Mrs. Linde for her safety as well.
Click here to learn more about the brave Frances Clayton!

Frances Clayton was one of hundreds of women who disguised themselves as men to fight in the war.

Source:
http://americancivilwar.com/women/women.html